A Love Like This

We always hear in church that we know God loves us because he sent his only son to die for us. We also hear pretty often, especially in lots of worship songs, that we'll never know how much it cost to bear our sins upon that cross. The observant church-goer might notice those are both Biblical facts, the verses for which I don't remember off the top of my head. That being said, it's hard to really understand how much God loves us, at least not that easily in plain-old sinner terms.

I think I've found a way to put it in terms we all can understand.

Long, long ago, in a galaxy far, far away, there were the Israelites. They were God's people. Needless to say, God didn't leave them high and dry.

For starters, God was, and is God, which in and of itself deserves a round of applause.

Unlike some people we probably know, God keeps his promises, and he did then too.

When the Israelites were being bullied, God didn't stand by and let those mean-heads harass them. No, he was like the big biker dude in the leather jacket cracking his knuckles right behind the wimpy kid as some punk tried to steal the kid's lunch money.

Plus, God provided everything they needed without even being asked.

And yet, the Israelites were stubborn.

God put up with their crap.

He even tolerated the Israelites even when they cheated on him with this cow-looking-thing. No one other than God would put up with that much bull.

Yet, God was still there to guide them.

And he continued to provide for them, more than that, bless them.

So, what did the Israelites do? If you've ever watched a two-year-old, you probably saw this one coming.

God's response: Discipline and compassion.

Guess what the Israelites did next! And then what God did! Dejavu!

God warned them...

...and warned them...

By this point, most people would have unfriended the Israelites on Facebook if nothing else. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if I'd murdered them or something. But God? No, he's above such frivolous behaviors.

The Israelites must be pretty terrible, right? Well, we're no better. We do the exact same thing over and over again. I can't tell your story, but I can assure you I've screwed up at least as much as the Israelites.

I'm an angry person, but not just for anything, for stupid stuff. For example, when a stranger opens a door for me just because I'm in a freaking wheelchair, I struggle not to chew them out every gosh darn time. When I'm annoyed by someone, I tend to utter sarcastic, sometimes scathing criticisms of them for all to hear. Oh, and don't even get me started on my lustful nature--I used to be a porn addict and before that, I walked halfway around a baseball field with some chick. When it comes down to it, I am a sinner. Plain and simple.

But God has blessed me beyond what I deserve. He has given me enormous disability checks every month with very few bills to pay, and he's given me the ambition and ability to do well in school. Because of God, I have many loyal friends and I'm the president of the French Club--heck, because of God, the French Club at my school has done things it hasn't been able to do for at least the past four years if ever at all. Most importantly, I know that God loves me so much, he was willing to die for me, so that I might one day spend eternity in heaven praising him. I can't wait.

The fact of the matter is, God's been good to me even though I'm less than deserving.